Apparatus for reinforcing inner tubes



v .Feb.f7 1939. l A. `Fuccno Y *2,145,890*

APPARATUS FOR REAINFORCING INNER TUBE-S Filed sept. 29, 195e 2 sheets-sheet 1 @YM W i Hfs ATTORNEY.

Feb. 7, 1939. A. Rlcclo APPARATUS FORREINFORCINQ INNER TUBES Filed ,septjza 195e .2 sheets-sheet 2 yPatented Feb. 7, L1939 PATENT olf-F1os '5. invention relates to improvements in a' means for reinforcinginner tubes for automobiles and the like,'and constitutes a continuation-in-V Qpart'of my co-pending application, Ser. v. No.

- 5,792,586, filed July k2,5,y 1936,- and entitled Methodr 1 and apparatus forreinforcing'inner tubes. krIn the aforesaid 'application I rdescribed va method andA apparatus for joining an endless band of puncture proofing material to the inner `lsur- 'f- 10 face of the portion 'ofthe tube adjacent tothe tread ofy the tire after the ltubewas; completed. y Thismethod consisted'genera'lly in introducing a quantity of afiuid sealingy substance into the tube,

' then placing the tube in a rotating bowl or centri- 15 lfuge, introducing a `'fair quantity of air into the tube then rotating same to secure a uniform distribution of the substancefover the inner surface' *ofthe outer peripheryfof the tube. After rotating the tube for something less than a minute substance, a, quantity of. a suitable coagulating substance waslintroducedinto the` tube while still leavngthe portion of the substance' adjacent to the tube in a more less fluid condition. Thus, when a puncture occurred and the nail or other sharp instrument withdrawn from the f tire, the air pressure within'the tubelforced the semi-fluid substance into theopening; which upon l coming in contact with the air hardened and effectively sealed Athe tube In the present invention I likewise introduce a suitable.' quantity of a Lfluid sealing substance f into the tube and then VVplace the tube in a rotating bowl or centrifuge and rotate the tube and ythus secure a uniform distribution of the material over the desired portion of thetube. In this instance, however, I employ a yrelatively heavier fluid and incorporateV therein, --just1prior to introducing into the tube, a coagulating rfluid'.

The sealing is thus at the point of `coagulation f when itis forced into the tube. `By employing this heavy, highly viscous fiuid it is necessary that fits `passage into the tube be confined to the area where, it is to finally remain, to wit, around the inner surface of the outer periphery, since when 1 lmaterial of this character'once come into contact 50 with the rubber inthe tube it'cannot be separated 7 therefrom, even under considerable centrifugal force. v

' `rjAccordingly, in carrying out the present inven- K tion I mount the flat,-deflated tube on'a base or` in platen and then place in engagement therewith' anr annular distribution ring which effectively confines the fluid substance to the greatest circumference of the tube. 4The tube is then placed in a. centrifuge or rotating device of the type shown 'in my co-pending application and rotated 5 until aneven distribution over the desired area is secured.

In the drawings: Y

*.Fig. 1 is a brokenfperspective view of the apparatus for blocking off the passage of the seall ing substance in the inner tube:

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section taken on line 2 2 of Fig 1:

Fig. 3 is a broken top plan View of modified form of tube supporting device; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

The fluid sealing substance which I employ comprises a mixture of liquid latex, a ller such as wheat flour, a small-quantity of glycerin and a somewhat larger quantity of pine tar. These 4ingredients are thoroughly mixed together and rotating by the useofa novel device-describediin saidy application. yThe outer surface of the sealg5 ingsubstancer thus becamesomewhat hardened,

a `few moments kbefore the mass is introduced into the tubev a small quantity of a fluid coagulant such as acetic acid is incorporated into the mixture. l The fluid sealing substance is thus on the verge of coagulation when it is introduced into the tube and accordingly it should be moved into the'tube as rapidly as possible and its location must be confined therein to the greatest circumference of the tube. As previously stated, the substance is a relatively heavy, highly viscous mass, which when it is engages the rubber will be. immediately relatively Apermanently adhered thereto. In the finished reinforced tube, the substance is caused to form a continuous band around the inner surface of the outer periphery of the tire, which is adjacent to the tread portion of the causing. In width, this area is approximately one thirdl of the circumference of the tube intran'sverse section. Accordingly it is imperative that the substance must be confined to this area.

yIn order to accomplish this the device illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 is employedr for blocking 45 off the flow of the liquid in the tube generally and distributing-it evenly around the location of its greatest circumference, said device comprising a circular lplaten l0 of substantial thickness,

` which forms a base vsupport for the tube, the

fiat portion as is well known. When in this position, the valve structure I4 maintains in an upright position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

An annular band or distribution ring I5 approximately one inch in thickness is now laid upon the tube, the band having an inwardly turned substantially U-slhaped portion I6 wherein the valve I4 of the tube 24 is positioned. The band I5 is further provided with a plurality of integrally formed radially disposed supports I1, which converge at the center' thereof. This band is held in place and in firm engagement with the tube by means of a centrally disposed vertical bolt I9, having a threaded upper end portion 20 provided with a wing nut 2|. It will be noted from an examination of Fig. 2 that a portion 23 of the tube 24, substantially circular in transverse section, projects beyond the outer periphery of the distribution band. The fluid sealing substance is'introduced into the tube through the valve I4, and passes into the annular area outside the distribution band. In view of the fact that the fluid substance is a rather dense mass, it is preferable to introduce same into the tube under pressure in order that it may pass to all desired parts thereof before it coagulates.

The substance, upon entering the tube, proceeds to move therearound in both directions,

wherein it meets at the opposite side. Inasmuch as thereris normally a small amount of air in the uninflated tube, the ring I5 is provided with a triangular or other shaped cut-out portion or vent 25 at a point opposite thev U-shaped portion It in order to permit the air to escape from the outer portion as the fluid sealing substance is introduced into the tube. Enough of the substance is introducedv into the tube in order to completely fill the circular annular area. The distribution ring I5 is now removed from the base and the tube 24 placed in a suitable centrifuge or rotating device which is adapted to evenly distribute the material over the desired area.

Although not essential, itis oftentimes desirable to introduce a quantity of air into the tube prior to the rotation thereof in order toI facilitate the proper distribution o-f the' material.

The distribution device shown in Figs. 3 and 4 is similar to that shown in Figs. l and 2, except that in the rst embodiment the distribution ring is manually laid upon the tube, whereas in the second embodiment the distribution ring is fixed, and the platen is caused to move upwardly in' engagement therewith by means of iluid pressure. In this instance, the tube 36 is supported on the circular platen 3l which in turn is mounted on a vertical shaft 38 by means of bolts 31. The shaft passes through a central aperture 39 in a supporting member 4B having a vertical iiange 4l. The upper surface of the platen is provided with a rubber facing-upon which the tube rests. A piston 43 secured to the lower end of the shaft 58 is` positioned within a cylinder 44 mounted on the lower surface of the support 40. The shaft 38 and the platen 3l are urged downwardly by means of a coil spring 46. The support 45 is mounted on a plurality of legs 41.

In this embodiment of the invention the distribution ring 4S comprises an annular member which is substantially U-shaped in transverse section and is provided with an integrally formed horizontal flange 50 extending around the outer periphery thereof, said ilange being bolted as at 52 to a horizontal flange 5 I formed integrally with the annular portion 4I around the support 40. The ring 49 is formed with a plurality of spaced slots 54 in order to permit the operator to observe the tube as the uid substance flows thereinto. v

The ring is further formed with a substantially oval shaped inwardly-disposed housing comprising side walls 56 and having an opening 5l to provide access to the valve 58 of the tube. In this instance the tube is laid dat upon the platen when the latter is in its lowered position. Air is then introduced into the cylinder 44 through the port 60 which causes the plate to move upwardlyuntil the tube is in rm engagement with the lower edge of the ring. The fluid substance is now introduced intorthe tube as aforesaid.V

What I claim is:-

1. In a device of the class described, the combination of a fiat member adapted to support a deflated inner tube and an annular ring adapted to engage the deflated tube when supported on the flat member and to divide the tube into' a plurality of annular sections, the ring having an inwardly turned portion adapted to'partially encircle the tube valve Vand include same in the outer section.

2. In adevice of the class described, the combination lof a iat member adapted to support a deiiated inner tube and an annular ring adapted to engage the deflated tube when supported on the flatmember and Y.to divide the tube into a plurality of annular sections, the ring having anY inwardly turned portion adapted'to partially encircle the tube valve and include the same in the outer section, and means extending between the flat member and the ring forurging the latter into rm engagement with the tube.

3. In a device of the class described, Vthe combination of a flat memberfor supporting a deiiated inner tube and means for dividing the tube Vinto two annular concentric sections, said means Y Y lining said substance to the area constituting the largest circumference of theA tube, the combination of a circular base for supporting the iiat,

deflated tube and an annular distribution ring of` lesser diameter than the outer periphery of the tube and adapted to engage the tube and divide same into a plurality of concentric annular sections, said ring having a substantially U shaped inwardly turned portion adapted to partially encircle the valve section and to include same in the larger annular section.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a circular platen adapted tosupport a deflated inner tube, an annular member of lesser diameter than that of the tube mounted above said platen, and mea-ns for raising the platen into engagement with the annular member to divide the tube into a plurality of annular concentric portions.

ANTHONY RICCIO'. 

